–
Terrance Lee Hughes (“Terry”), 71, of Cahuilla, California, passed away peacefully on
August 12, 2026 in Temecula, California
Born in Nürnberg, Germany on January 27, 1955, where his parents were stationed,
Terry grew up in Versailles, Kentucky. Terry was a tribal government and gaming
professional. He spent 25 years in tribal gaming and was part of a team that opened the
first tribal cards room and bingo halls in California. He saw the evolution of Tribal
gaming in California, starting as a dealer, floorman, and a poker manager at the
Cabazon Indian Casino before serving as the General Manager of the Cahuilla Creek
Casino where he was known for an aggressive entertainment policy. He then shifted his
focus to tribal government operations in 2004, serving as the Tribal Administrator of the
Santa Rosa Band of Indians for 16 years where he worked to help build up the Tribal
government and establish key relationships with government stakeholders to support
tribal operations and projects.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Ruggles Hughes and Lillian Gillen
Byrd, and his siblings Sheila Faye Hughes Rivera, Michael Hughes, and Theodore
“Teddy” Hughes. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Celeste Hughes, four
stepchildren, Diane Rosales (Abundio Rosales), Gabriela Magee (Raymond Magee),
Rafael Rios (Chela Ortega), and Elizabeth Rios, and 12 grandchildren, Leila, Jocelyn,
Ish’Wish, Joseph, Analia, Amaya, Reyes, Daymon, Lucia, Thalia, Michael, and Reyna,
his siblings Carla Hughes Lacefield and Marta Hughes Ritchey, and numerous nieces
and nephews.
Terry was a traveler that loved to travel to new places. He loved to entertain his family
with his traveling stories which included backpacking through Europe, trips to Egypt and
Morocco, and hitchhiking across the country.
Prior to moving to California, Terry worked for his family’s marketing business, several
traveling shows and circuses, including the Disney Holiday on Ice Show and the
Ringling Bros and Barnum and Baily Circus. He later attended University of South
Florida (New College) and Ringling Art School Sarasota.
Terry was a sports enthusiast and loved watching college and professional sports. He
was an avid fan of the University of Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, and Green
Bay Packers. He taught his stepchildren to loathe Duke, North Carolina, and Kansas
and never missed a March Madness.
When he married Celeste in 2001, he also became the beloved stepfather of four
children and took on the role with love. He introduced his stepchildren to the world of
college sports and Texas Hold’em and, along with his mother Lillian, taught the kids a
love for scrabble and other board games. He also used his arts background to help all
the kids with school projects – making the best dioramas and displays.
Known as “T” to his family, he is remembered most for cooking Sunday dinners for his
family, his love of crosswords puzzles and knowing random trivia, Halloween masks and
scaring the kids when trick or treating, and relaxing in his mancave watching sports.
He was also dedicated to his local parish, receiving the Our Lady of Guadalupe Award
in 2020 for his exemplary generosity, leadership, and service beyond the scope of the
parish.
Terry will be remembered for his quiet love for his family, his humor, and ingenuity.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Salvation Army or a local men’s
shelter.
The community, family, and friends are invited to Hemet Affordable Burial and
Cremation on August 21, 2026 for a viewing and rosary at 6:00pm. A funeral will be held
at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church on August 22, 2026 at 10:00am.
